Media statement

Scientific evidence supports condom provision in schools

Research conducted by the South African Medical Research Council (MRC) Health Systems Research Unit shows that  comprehensive sex education programmes in schools delay sexual debut and increase condom use amongst adolescents aged 12 – 14 years.

The study, conducted in Cape Town, Mankweng and Dar es Salaam, is one of many which confirm that school condom availability programmes do not increase rates of adolescent sexuality. Research published by the New York University on this issue in 1997 showed that making condoms available in schools increases condom use among sexually active students, but does not increase the proportion of students who are sexually active.

“South African research has shown that young people find it difficult to get access to condoms through public health services.  School condom availability programmes make it easy for young people to access condoms,” says Dr Catherine Mathews, a senior researcher at the MRC’s Health Systems Research Unit.

According to a review published by the Cochrane Collaboration in 2002, consistent use of condoms results in 80% reduction in HIV incidence.

“For school learners who are sexually active, condoms are a very effective HIV prevention method,” says Professor Salim S. Abdool Karim, President of the MRC, “South Africa’s Children’s Act gives adolescents 12 years and older the right to reproductive health. This means the right to have access to the means to protect themselves from HIV. There is strong scientific justification for provision of condoms in schools to reduce teenage pregnancies, sexually transmitted infections and AIDS.”